The peace and security council o the African Union (AU) is meeting on Thursday to discuss the political crises in Chad and Somalia.

It comes just a day after opposition politicians in Chad rejected the country’s army appointment of President Idriss Déby's son to take over in the wake of his death.

Mr Déby, 68 - who had been in power for three decades - died after being shot as he battled rebels on the frontline.

Chad is seen as an important country to the international efforts to combat Islamist militants in Africa.

Meanwhile, Somalia is also facing a constitutional crisis following an electoral impasse of presidential and parliamentary elections.

Last week, Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, also known as Farmajo, controversially approved an extension of his term in office by two years as voted for by parliament.

Major world powers including the US and the UK along with the UN, European Union and the AU have condemned the extension, calling for consensus in addressing the dispute, which they said has thrown the country into a deeper political crisis that could destabilise the entire region.

The AU peace and security council can recommend sanctions against member states which violate its charter on democracy and governance.

Such measures include suspension from the union.